Automatic hinge for school-seats



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

E. M. DENNIS. AUTOMATIC HINGE FOR SCHOOL SEATS.

No. 511,881. Patented Jan. 2, 1894.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. M. DENNIS.

AUTOMATIC HINGE FOR SCHOOL SEATS.

No 511,881. PatentedrJan. 2, 1894.

NITED STATES PATENT tries.

EDIVARD M. DENNIS, OF \VALKERVILLE, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOFRANCIS R. BEAL, OF NORTHVILLE, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC HINGE FOR SCHOOL-=SEATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,881, dated January2, 18Q4. Application filed December 10, 1892. Serial No;454,723- (lIomodel.) Patented in Canada May '7, 1892, No. 38,867.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, EDWARD M. DENNIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Valkerville, county of Essex, Province of Ontario,

Canada, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in AutomaticI-Iinges for School-Seats, (for which I have obtained a patent in theDominion of Canada, bearing date of May 7, 1892, and numbered 38,867,)andI declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, 1 which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object an automatic hinge for school seats ofnovel construction,which shall be simple, durable and 'of superiorefficiency. The desirability of having a school seat which may be turnedup when not in use, and be again turned down for use, both operationsbeing noiseless, is well understood. The desirability also of having aseat so operated, constructed in such a 2 5 manner that the seat willautomatically raise ltself, when not in use, at least after a littlestart at the very beginning of its movement, is also evident.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a school seat with anautomatic hinge to accomplish these results in a most satisfactorymanner, and to overcome objectionable features in hinges or joints forschool seats heretofore common.

5 To these ends my invention consists of the devices and appliances,their construction, combination and arrangement as hereinafter specifiedand claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is a side elevation of a school seat embodying 'my invention,showing the seat in position for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view indetail of the hinge, in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a view in section onthe line a;0c Fig. 4E. Fig. 4 is an inner side elevation from theopposite side of that shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away and theoscillatory lever removed, but showing the cushioned joint at the upperend thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the hinge from the side oppositethat shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the seat arm andoscillatory lever, the standard being omitted. Fig. 7 is a detail viewof the joint arm of the standard.

I carry out my invention as follows:

Ain the drawings represents the standards or uprights.

B is the seat back.

C is the seat.

D is the desk.

E denotes the arms supporting the seat.

A denotes a joint arm of the standard, which may be formed in anydesired shape. This joint arm is constructed with a flange a, providedwith gear teetha. Ido not, however,limit myself to this precise mannerof providing the joint arm A with the gear teeth. These gear teethpreferably form a segmental gear normally extending rearward on anincline, as shown. The joint arm is also provided with an orifice, asata above said gear teeth. The seat arms E are formed with a shoulder Eforming a loop A. Said shoulder is provided with a segmental gear, asshown at E and with an orifice as indicated at E.

F denotes an oscillatory lever constructed with a hub F inserted, andhaving a jointed engagement, in the orifice F. of the shoulder E. Theopposite end of said lever is jointedly engaged with the joint arm A, asby a pivoting bolt G passed therethrough and through the orifice o Thejoint arm adjacent to said orifice a is constructed with a tubularextension a through which said 8 5 bolt passes, and upon which islocated a projecting rubber ring [I serving as a cushion.

A washer II separates said cushion from the adjacent face of theoscillating lever. The tubular extension at is preferably reduced at itsextremity to receive the rubber ringH,

as shown in Fig.

Upon the hub F of the oscillating lever is located a rubber gasket I.

On each side of the shoulder of the seat arm I locate washers e e, thewasher 6 extending between the face of the seat arm and the oscillatinglever.

J denotes a cap located upon the inner end of the hub F, its edgesbearing on said gastoo arm, the washers and the gasket.

Adjacent to the hub F the oscillatory lever is formed with a chamber Fin whichis located a spring F engaged at its extremities with theoscillatory lever and with the shoulder of the seat arm, the springexerting its tension to elevate the seat arm. In doing so, it will beevident that the segmental gear upon the end of the seat arm is rotatedand is consequently carried rearward along the geared portion of thejoint arm of the standard, so that not only isthe seat arm ele-' vated,but it is also at the same time forced rearward. Thus two movements arecommunicated to the seat arm, the lifting movement of the seat arm, andthe retracting or rearward movement also, the two movements taking placesimultaneously, while the inclined gear way on the arm of the standardfacilitates the elevation of the seat arm, since, as will be apparent,the center of gravity of the seat arm is changing with the retractionthereof, the weight of the seat arm being thrown more and more to therear of the oscillatory lever. When the seat arm is in a downwardposition, the segmental gear thereon is located forward on the gearedportion of the standard, as indicated in Fig. 5, and the rear portion ofthe shoulder E is thrown forward against the cushion or ring II. On theother hand when the seat arm is raised out of position for use, thesegmental gear thereon is rotated to the rear of the geared portion ofthe joint arm, and the forward part of the shoulder E is thrown backwardagainst the cushion H. Thus a single rubber ring H serves to cushion theseat arm in both its downward and upward position, and renders itsoperation in either direction noiseless.

I do not limit myself to the use of the spring F alone, nor to anydefinite number and arrangement of washers and gaskets in putting themain portions of the device together. The ring H not only serves tocushion the operation of the seat arm at two points, but also keeps thejoint tight at that point. The gasket I also serves, if used, to keepthe joint tight at that point. The oscillatory lever may, however, bejointedly engaged with the seat arm at the lower end, and with thestandard at the upper end in any desired manner, without departing fromthe principle of my invention. It will be observed that the union of theoscillatory lever with the standard at the upper end of the leverextends throughthe loop A I prefer not to have the seat rise to aperfectly erect position, but to about the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 4. \Vhen its erect position is limited to such a position,it is evident that a person desiring to use the seat, need not throwdown the seat by hand, but may force it down into horizontal position bysimply sitting down, as the outer edge "projects forward from the back asufficient distance for the accomplishment of this result in thismanner. The seat leaving the pupil, when the pupil rises,'on a backwardmovement at the same time that it rises, readily frees itself from theclothing, and the upward pull of the clothing, as of a dress, when thepupil rises will ordinarily be sufficient to give the seat a start onits upward and backward movement. The tension of the spring, ifemployed, may be adjusted as required 1n any desired manner.

A special feature of this invention 1s noticeable in the fact that theweight of the pupil instead of coming upon the joint comes upon thegear.

By tightening the bolt K more or less friction may be afforded to theoperation of the seat arm to make the joint tighter or looser as may berequired. Should the joint at any time become loose, it may be tightenedup readily by turning the bolt K.

The shoulder E may be for-med with a flange a within which are engagedthe gasket I, washer e and inner edge of the cap J What I claim as myinvention is-- 1. In a seat, the combination, with a'standard providedwith a geared portion, of an oscillatory lever pivotally secured to thestandard, and a seat arm jointedly connected with the lever and engagingwith the gear por-- tion of the standard, substantially as set forth.

2. In a seat, the combination, with two standards, each provided with ajoint arm having a geared portion upon its inner surface, an oscillatorylever pivotally secured to each arm at its upper end a seat armjointedly connected with the lower end of each of said levers andengaging with its standard, and a seat secured to the said seat arms,substantially as set forth.

3. In a seat, the combination, with two standards, each provided with ajoint arm having a geared portionand a perforation IEO above and to therear of the geared portion,

an oscillatory lever pivotally connected at its upper end to each arm atthe perforation, a seat arm pivotally secured to the lower end of eachof the levers and engaging with its standard, and a seat secured to saidseat arms, substantially as set forth.

'4. In a seat, the combination, with two standards, each provided with ajoint arm having a downwardly and rearwardly extended geared portionupon its inner face, an

oscillatory leverpivotally secured at its upper end to each arm,"a seatarm pivotally secured to the lower end of each of the levers andengaging with its standard, and a seat secured to said seat arms,substantially as set forth.

5. In a seat, the combination, with two standards, each provided with ajoint arm and a geared portion, said arm having a tubular extension, acushion on said extension, an oscillatory lever, pivotally secured toeach extension at its upper end a seat arm pivotally secured betweeneach lever and its respective joint arm, each of said seat arms beingprovided with a geared portion to engage with the geared portion of thestandard, and provided with a loop through which the extension of thejoint arm projects and by means of which loop the movement of the seatarm is regulated, and a seat on the seat arms, substantially as setforth.

6. In a seat, the combination, with a standard provided with a joint armand with a geared portion of an oscillatory lever pivotally secured tosaid arm at its upper end, and having its lower end provided with achamher and a tubular hub projecting from the bottom of the chamber, aseat arm pivotally EDWARD M. DENNIS.

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, JOHN F. MILLER.

